Clipper Blades & how to clip a puppy or summer cut
Here are all blade depths Size, Depth & Usage #3 - 1/2” Skip tooth #3F - 1/2” Full tooth #4 - 3/8” Skip tooth #4F - 3/8” Full tooth #5 - 1/4” Skip tooth #5F - 1/4” Full tooth #7 - 1/8” Skip tooth #7F - 1/8” Full tooth #8 1/2 - 7/64” All-purpose #9 - 5/64” Medium #10 - 1/16” All-purpose 10 X-Wide - 3/32” #15 - 3/64” Medium close #30 - 1/50” Close #40 - 1/100” Surgical #50 - 1/125” #5/8 - 1/32” Trim, finish #7/8 - 1/32” The last two the 5/8 & the 7/8 stand for width. They are designed for small areas. I like to cut both ways because you get an even smooth cut. It does cut it a smidge shorter though. The F gives you a smoother cut and is easier to use, it also doesn't get stuck in the fur as bad. Buy the equivallent of an Oster A-5, I have the 2 speed model with a Vac-U-Groomer attachmnet to suck the hair like the groomers have, the clippers and a # 10 blade with a set of clip on's will be fine to start. You can get the blades up to 1/2 inch cut depth sometimes 5/8's, get ceramic blades they run cooler last longer and stay sharper. if you cut the body at 3/4 inch this is perfect. Cut the head at 1 to 1/4 inches and the ears at about the same 1 1/4 or a little longer. Number #10 around the butt under the tail for an inch and increasse clip height in 1/4 inch increments until body lenght, then take the 1/4 inch blade and feather it all in. Cut in two directions or it will be uneven. Restrain the dog with something comfortable until they get used to being clipped for your safety, I guarantee you will get your finger cut with the clipper blade and you will get frustrated because the dog wants to get away so put some bandades near and a couple of bottles of water and a bowl of water. Don't work where the dog can see the neighbor kids running around. Have a fan blowing on you and the dog. Brush the dog before you clip if it is matted, a few won't matter but allot will. Remember to stop and kiss the dog any time they seem frustrated tell them you love them pet them, hug them etc. the clippers cost about 150 - 200 dollars the Vac-U-Groomer costs 75 after shipping. A trip to the groomers cost 75 on average 3 times per year you have re cooped your investment in two years. Oh by the way use the #10 to clip the hair under the paws so it doesn't mat and track dirt. You will do fine it does take 3 hours 4 without the Vac and will make an increadible mess. One more thing take Ibuprofen before you start you will thank me later. |
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Great post Roger's Dad! 
I'm far less professional about it. I just get out the clippers, no cover on the blade, and zoom! LOL |
| Roger's Dad you wrote Quote: Cut in two directions or it will be uneven
How do you mean? I though you just start at the head and work towards the back? Elissa |
| You do and that will be fine, but because the hair lays down in any direction you cut you will have some high spots and some low spots. So I just clip front to back, then back to front, then side to side if the hair is not behaving. It will look significantly better as it grows if you take the time now. I also cut the head, ears, face and legs 1/4 to 1/2 inch longer than the body, I know it doesn't seem right but it looks like the same length this way. If you cut it all the same length the head and legs look shorter, go figure. Also get out your vaccum and tape that straight tool just below the blade it will suck up all the hair and will go allot faster, just don't cover up the cooling holes in the clipper. At some point buy a Vac-u-Groomer it is an attachment that screws on to the clippers just like the grooming shops have, but cost only $59, you hook it up to your shop vac. I bought a long hose from Lowes and put my vac outside the door so I don't have to listen to it.
Have fun. |
| Even when shaving right to the skin, there will be some areas that end up a bit longer, it is slightly noticeable the first few days, but their coat grows so fast that within a couple of weeks it all blends anyway.... |
Wow thanks!  I was wondering about this since summers get so hot around here.
How do you normally keep your dog still while doing this? I don't have a grooming table so I was just wondering. Also - is there a way to desensitize my dog to the sound (and maybe the feel) of a razor? I probably won't cut her coat this year - but I want to make sure she is ok with it when I do want it to be nice and short for summer. |
| I would just get her used to the sound and feel of the clippers without actually clipping the fur. I didn't have a grooming table the first time I shaved Dancer down, we did it on the floor, and I had my husband help hold her. We took breaks too so that it wasn't overwhelming for her. |
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